I just wanted to update everyone on Ric...he is not recovering nearly a quickly as last time.  I would have to say he may be about the same as when I brought him home on Monday...meaning that his energy levels are still somewhat depleted...perhaps 40 to 50 percent.  I did take Ric yesterday to get his staples removed...doc decided to only remove half...he has at least 50 in total!  Will get rest removed on Tuesday.   Meeting with the oncology team on Thursday morning to discuss next steps. 

Ric's appetite is still good...he does need a lot of rest right now...which he is getting plenty of.  We are hoping for more strength as the days go on.

I am glad to report that I was able to bring Ric home late Monday afternoon.  We are all very happy that he is home where he should be.  He has 3 lil nurses at home willing to do anything for their daddy!  I think Ric will be getting a manicure in his near future...don't think he'll be fast enough to get away from them.  The manicure will go really well with his bejewelled head. 

I want to say thank you to the Symcor Family and to our wonderful friends Peter and Sarah for the yummy edible flower bouquet.  We all LOVE fruit!!!  Also thank you to Amber for the homemade rolls...which Rick is devouring.  Thank you also to Ric's mom who came to stay with girls, so I could go to visit with my wonderful husband whenever I wanted.  Sheila and Colin for your generosity with the parking pass for the hospital and gift card for Good Earth, and for all the extras.  Also a nice neighbour who came by with a wonderful meal, thank you Melanie!  Jodi and Peter who took our kids in and kept them safe when I had to take Ric into the ER.  Matt and Tara for all your wonderful gifts.   We are very blessed to have such wonderful and thoughtful friends.  You all are keeping us strong, and just appreciating where we live.

Ric's mom left today...so we are just enjoying some time together just our little family unit.  Ric is moving about slowly, but has a great appetite.  He still has his neck pain...but the meds he is on now are helping.  Ric will continue to rest up this week, and wants to get out and start walking again.  He will be getting his staples out this Friday. 

I just want to start out by saying "thank you"  all for the wonderful comments...and when I see Ric tomorrow I will update him.  I do everyday "hope" for a miracle...or just wake up from this terrible night mare.

I am happy to report that Ric is doing well! The nurses removed his bandages from his surgery site today...everything looks really good.  The incision was made over the existing one...just brought slightly more forward on the forehead.  I am encouraging Ric to move a bit more...today was a bit tricky however, he just wanted to watch football.  Oh well, I guess that was okay!  I did happen to get him out for a bit of a walk around the unit...then I wheeled him around to find some candy...he is really enjoying food lately, have I mentioned that?!?

I am very proud of Ric...he continues to be strong, and he continually reminds me that he is going to "beat this".  I will continue to stand behind my wonderful husband, and do everything in my power to help him achieve this.  We all have to have hope...and we must not ever forget that!

We are going to see if Ric will be released tomorrow...as I am sure he has a "Ric's Pic" up his sleeve.

Today was an emotional day for us all!  Ric had his MRI before surgery, they discovered the tumours had doubled in size.  We were told this was not a good situation, and the surgeon told Ric if he did not want to proceed with the operation he would understand.  The next option we could have thought about was to start chemo next week...Ric opted for the surgery.  Surgery was scheduled for 8:30, it last until 1:30...a very extensive procedure.  Unfortunately the surgeon was only able to remove 1 tumour...the frontal tumour, which was the largest.  He had to make a judgement call, and opted not to remove the posterior tumour due to the likely hood of harming Ric.  Ric was alert and "with it" when Ric's brother and I got to see him.  He was upset that he couldn't sleep after the surgery...not enough pain meds...nursing staff wanted to keep Ric awake enough to see and make sure he was continuing to do well.  All was well when I left the hospital tonight.  We were able to get some extra pains meds for Ric...which also helped him with the pain.  I am certain Ric is in good hands tonight...as I will return tomorrow to do my best at nursing... 

Just want to update you all and let you know that Ric will have his second surgery next Friday...the 21st of January.  The frontal tumour is slightly larger than the tumour discovered in July.  The posterior tumour is slightly smaller than the first tumour.  The surgeon will use the same area to resect the new tumours...he will just bring the incision a bit more forward onto Ric's forehead.  Surgery should take roughly 3 hours.

Ric continues to do fairly well...his energy levels are still fairly low.  He continues to get his neck pain, which is now traveling up to his lower skull.  Doctors do not believe this is tumour related...I think we will all find out soon enough!  I am glad to report that Ric is still eating very good...I am thankful for this! \

We will continue to keep you all updated...and thank you all for all the encouraging words...as we really need them right now.  Ric is very strong and he really is doing his best to beat this disease.

Ric's Pic : Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze

Just a quick update...we met with the oncology team yesterday, they advise surgery is the best option in this case.  After surgery will be more chemotherapy, a different kind this time(still taken orally)...as the tumour has discovered how to reproduce itself despite the chemo taken last time.  There will be no radiation...as this can only be offered once to an area already treated in this nature.  We will meet with the surgeon on Friday to discuss when the next surgery will take place...as it will be very soon. 

Ric has a very good appetite these days...thankfully due to the meds he is taking for the swelling.  He has lost a considerable amount of weight, so we are trying to put some weight back on him.  His energy levels are still low...we hope this will pick up over the next couple of days.

Ric's Pic:  Young Rascals - It's A Beautiful Morning

I am thankful to report that I was able to bring Ric home on Friday night.  We met with the surgeon on Friday afternoon to discuss the results of the MRI.  Ric unfortunately has 2 new tumours...which are located in the front and the back of the pre-existing tumour.  The surgeon can remove the tumours...but this is an aggressive tumour, which may come back again.  We are going to meet with the oncology team on Tuesday morning...they did not even come to talk to Ric while he was in the hospital for the 2 days.  I am very unhappy with this...I am sure you can tell!  I guess to their defence, they wanted to wait until an expert read the MRI to talk to Ric about possible options for future treatment. If surgery is the decision we will contact the surgeon...in which he will move quickly to have this done procedure done for Ric in timely fashion.  We will have more news on Tuesday...which we will update at that point.  Right now Ric is able to eat, and is virtually headache free...his biggest problem is his neck.  He seems to have a lot of neck pain...we think from laying about for several weeks prior to the emergency hospital visit.  Chelsea helped pick out a neck massager for her daddy...we hope this will help...along with my icey hands.

This is a hard blog for me to type...we decided to take Ric to the ER last night, due to lack of energy, headaches, nausea and vomiting.  They did a CT scan on Ric...the tumour is back.  It appears to be in the right frontal region this time...last time was the right temporal region.  Now this is just a CT, so we are waiting for an MRI... so doc's can give us a better idea of location and size.  From that information there will be an idea of what steps should be taken next.  Presumably surgery...will keep you all posted. 

I am happy to say after Ric was admitted to the hospital, he was given fluids and meds, and what an improvement.  The headaches are gone, no more nausea  or vomiting, and he is eating again!  Ric's appetite has really decreased over the last 3 weeks.  I would have to say he dropped another 10 pounds, which likely brings him down to 185-190 pounds.    Ric has a ton of support, and a whole lot of strength behind him in this next battle that he must fight.  He is a fighter and we are very proud of him. 

I wish I had a Ric's pic for you all...but I don't...maybe next time.

Things have been like a roller coaster around here.  Ric takes two steps forward and one step back again.  I wish I had some good news to share with you all...The nausea and vomiting continued a few days past Christmas Day.  With the nausea and vomiting Ric was also sleeping a ton.  I talked to the oncologist, she told me to take Ric to the family doctor...the family doctor figures Ric picked up a "Bug".  She told Ric to get plenty of rest.   He started to feel better, with the exceptions of his headaches...which are a regular occurence these days.  Today however, Ric could not manage to get out of bed, and was vomiting again today.   This is particularly frustrating as he should be getting stronger, for his next round of chemo.  I am pushing the fluids, and managed to get a couple crackers and some popcorn into his body.  Thankfully it is Sunday...and Ric is watching some football. 

On the 8th Ric goes for his MRI...then the doctors visit on the 11th.  The oncologist is going to lower the chemo dosage, as she feels Ric is particularly sensitive to it...apparently this chemo is highly tolerable.  Lets hope for the best... for some strength for Ric to get through this bumpy patch.

Ric's Pic:  Tower Of Power - Clean Slate